Deck 5: Organizing Effective Instruction

Question 1

Informal activities are important because:

A)children need to play.
B)children enjoy games, puzzles, and manipulative materials.
C)children can stay busy but the teacher does not have to supervise informal activities.
D)children develop understanding of concepts before they are taught in formal lessons.

Answer 1

children develop understanding of concepts before they are taught in formal lessons.

Question 2

An example of a problem-based investigation is:

A)determining how much money is necessary to make change for a purchase of $4.78 when $5 is given to the clerk at the store.
B)determining the base of a parallelogram whose area is 20 square units.
C)discovering various details (destination, speed, weight, cargo, etc.)about a train that passes outside a classroom window.
D)calculating how much time it takes for music class to finish if the time now is 2:15 and the class gets over at 2:43.

Answer 2

discovering various details (destination, speed, weight, cargo, etc.)about a train that passes outside a classroom window.

Question 3

Homework is most beneficial to students' learning when:

A)a formal school-wide policy exists concerning the number of times per week that it is assigned.
B)it is an assignment that the student and family complete together.
C)it is graded.
D)it is enough to practice the known skill or concept, but not excessive.

Answer 3

it is enough to practice the known skill or concept, but not excessive.

Question 4

Directed teaching/thinking lessons are:

A)dominated by the teacher.
B)guided by the teacher.
C)independent projects for students.
D)easy to plan.

Question 5

According to INTASC, beginning teacher standards include all of the following except:

A)the teacher plans instruction based on knowledge of subject matter.
B)the teacher understands how children learn.
C)the teacher uses technology to teach computer skills.
D)the teacher fosters relationships with colleagues.

Question 6

Flexible grouping strategies are put in place so that:

A)teachers can work with students on specific needs and interests.
B)teachers can plan remedial work for some students and advanced work for others.
C)advanced students can work on the next level of mathematics.
D)materials can be shared.

Question 7

A comprehensive plan for teaching a mathematical concept and skill would include the four phases in this order:

A)mastery, concepts, maintenance, transfer
B)concepts, mastery, strategies, maintenance
C)strategies, concepts, maintenance, mastery
D)concepts, strategies, mastery, maintenance

Question 8

Flexible grouping means that the teacher:

A)uses different instructional groups appropriate to the task or situation.
B)uses a different seating arrangement each week.
C)allows the children to choose partners for different tasks.
D)randomly draws names to place children in groups.

Question 9

Teachers create unit plans to:

A)have on-file lessons that administrators can use when observing them.
B)make sure learning activities are sequenced correctly.
C)make sure students stay on task.
D)make sure all concepts from the textbook are covered.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of an instructional objective?

A)Students will develop number sense.
B)Students will develop spatial visualization skills.
C)Students will communicate mathematical ideas orally and in writing.
D)Students will identify objects grouped in sets of six.

Question 11

Long-range planning is best described as planning:

A)for 2-3 months.
B)for 2-3 weeks.
C)an interdisciplinary unit.
D)instruction over the year.

Question 12

Instructional objectives describe:

A)what students need to know when performing procedural tasks.
B)what students should know and be able to do after instruction.
C)long-term planning goals.
D)how teachers present lessons to their students.

Question 13

Cooperative learning is recommended because students:

A)get grades of 90% or above on cooperative projects.
B)enjoy working in groups.
C)can divide the work up so that each person has reduced time and effort on a project.
D)are responsible for the learning of all members of the group.

Question 14

For drill and practice of basic facts to be successful, teachers should:

A)use flash cards exclusively since research shows they work best.
B)conduct practice sessions that are at least 20 minutes long.
C)set speed as a primary goal since students need to recall facts quickly.
D)avoid comparison of students.

Question 15

According to Gagne, what are the three sequential stages of a well-planned lesson?

A)instructional input, motivation, assessment
B)preparation, presentation, practice
C)pre-assessment, preparation, presentation
D)independent practice, presentation, feedback

Question 16

A seven-step lesson cycle (assessing readiness, setting the stage, instruction, guided practice, check for understanding, independent practice, assess mastery)was put forth by:

A)Bruner.
B)Skinner.
C)Hunter.
D)Skemp.

Question 17

Indicators of students' abilities to reason abstractly include all of the following except :

A)using verbal explanations.
B)using mental computation.
C)using technology.
D)using number sense.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is the best description for effective instruction in mathematics?

A)Effective instruction is a collaborative process of discovering mathematical concepts found in interesting problems.
B)Effective instruction involves teachers conveying to students the most important mathematical concepts through structured exercises.
C)Effective instruction requires students to memorize concepts and skills before solving problems.
D)Effective instruction is best achieved through teacher-directed lessons and student attention to rules and principles.

Question 19

Which of the following sequences is recommended for increasing understanding in mathematics?

A)symbolic to mental to concrete to pictorial
B)concrete to pictorial to symbolic to mental
C)mental to pictorial to concrete to symbolic
D)concrete to symbolic to mental to pictorial

Question 20

Problem-based projects and investigations enable:

A)teachers to keep students working cooperatively.
B)students to pursue mathematical topics in depth.
C)teachers to assess students' knowledge of addition facts.
D)students to work on the computer.

Question 21

One purpose of open-ended questions is to encourage students to:

A)answer more creatively and analytically.
B)demonstrate basic knowledge.
C)give rapid answers.
D)prepare for the unit test.

Question 22

Explain the purposes of informal or exploratory experiences in student learning. What are the roles of the teacher and students?

Question 23

During the first phase of a directed teaching/thinking lesson, the teacher's purpose is to:

A)assess student readiness.
B)develop interest in the topic and identify the learning focus.
C)explain and demonstrate the concept or skill of the lesson.
D)determine the mastery level of each child.

Question 24

Why are instructional objectives important in teaching? Describe their role in connecting goals to assessment.

Question 25

Explain the role and importance of the "setting the stage" portion of a lesson. Select an objective and describe three ways to set the stage for a lesson.

Question 26

According to a comprehensive review of research on teaching, each of the following instructional strategies increases student achievement except :

A)identifying similarities and differences.
B)creating representations such as charts, diagrams, and pictures.
C)appropriate homework and practice.
D)lecturing.

Question 27

Open-ended questions elicit much greater response than closed questions in classroom discussions. Ask a closed question, then change it to an open-ended question. Why do you think you would get a better response with the open-ended question?

Question 28

Explain the purposes of problem-based projects and investigations in student learning. What are the roles of the teacher and student?

Question 29

Daily planning is best described as:

A)coordinating varied instructional approaches around unit objective(s).
B)planning a 45-minute teacher-directed lesson.
C)identifying the workbook pages that coordinate with the textbook.
D)writing a clear instructional objective.

Question 30

Some evidence shows that tracking of students by ability group has the long-range effect of:

A)helping advanced students' progress more rapidly.
B)restricting the instructional opportunities of lower achieving students.
C)both of these options.
D)neither of these options.

Question 31

During the second phase of the directed teaching/thinking lesson, the teacher may include each of the following except:

A)explain and demonstrate the concept or skill of the lesson.
B)transfer the learning to new situations.
C)check for understanding.
D)engage students in a problem that develops the concept or skill.

Question 32

Spiral instructional planning involves:

A)carefully sequencing instructional objectives.
B)teaching topics at more complex levels over time.
C)planning interdisciplinary units that integrate several subjects.
D)developing instructional units with other teachers.

Question 33

Learning centers can be used for exploratory lessons. Give three specific examples of activities that would lend themselves to this type of arrangement. Then, give two pros and cons about this type of arrangement in your classroom.

Question 34

Discuss the value of cooperative learning. What issues or problems must be considered when instituting cooperative learning?

Question 35

Explain the purposes of directed teaching/thinking lessons in student learning. What are the roles of the teacher and students?

Question 36

A teacher was overheard saying that he believed that mathematical manipulatives should primarily be used for young children and slow learners. React to his statement, using facts from the chapter.

Question 37

What are two specific ways that a teacher can maximize time in the elementary mathematics classroom?